77-year-old carpenter spent 20 days making wooden balls in mortise and tenon connection for the World Cup. Photo: web

Did you ever think that a football can be made from wood? Recently, with the 2022 Qatar World Cup is in full swing, footballs made from Polyurethane materials sparked infinite possibilities at the feet of athletes from all over the world. However, thousands of miles away, a 77-year-old carpenter from Jinan, East China's Shandong Province spent 20 days making a wood football with mortise and tenon structure on Tuesday.

Without using a single nail, Qiao Mingsheng, a carpenter, used only 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons make the smooth football. The traditional mortise-tenon joint structure technique, widely found in ancient Chinese buildings and furniture, is strong and durable. The football he made can be kicked around like a normal ball without falling apart. Qiao is a fan of football. On the occasion of the World Cup, he made a wooden ball to cheer for the World Cup using his own craft. "It is very meaningful to keep it as a souvenir," Qiao said.

Netizens were moved by Qiao's skill and passion. "He combined Chinese traditional crafts with modern sports, it's both creative and practical," a netizen said. "I really admire Qiao's spirit of being able to spend so much time thinking about something and doing it well in just 20 days," said another.